If there’s anything I’ve spent more time on than reading spiritual literature, meditating, or practicing astrology, it has to be ornamental fish and photography. My love for ornamental fish goes all the way back to 3rd grade—1982. And photography? That started in 1994, the moment I saw an SLR camera in a friend’s hand. These weren’t hobbies I picked up and dropped—they were loves I fell into and never found a reason to climb out of.
Aquarium keeping, to some extent, I’ve mastered. But photography—there’s no real mastery in that. It’s an art, not a science. You can learn the tools, but never the totality of it.
I’m drawn to candid, travel, and street photography. Portraits? Rarely. And I did a portraiture, in 2021—for one of my elder sisters.
Oh almighty. For the last four years, every time my other elder sister called, she made sure to bring up that photo, poke fun at it, and have a hearty laugh. “You made her look like a devadasi,” was her usual punchline.
But no—I never felt bad. I’ve always seen my work—be it job or passion—as a roller coaster ride. I enjoy the ups and downs. And whether someone claps or cringes from the ground below, it doesn’t matter as long as I’m having fun on the ride.
Here’s the lesson: never expect appreciation from your family, friends, or close circle. It almost never comes from them. It will arrive instead from the most unexpected people and places. Some of my photos on Instagram have been liked by celebrity chefs and global businessmen—not that it changes my ride. But it’s a reminder: never stop doing what you love. Or better still—only do what you enjoy.
If you want to see the portrait in focus, visit this Insta link – https://www.instagram.com/p/DLkErohSTMT/?igsh=MTU3YzB1dHhwMHFheA==